Study shows that consumers play an important role in solving e-waste problems

In a recent study performed by Pike Research, of the 1000 Americans polled about processing electronic waste, 76% of IT consumers stated that the proper method of handling old, broken or unused electronic equipment was through the recycling process.

The fact that the average consumer has 2.8 pieces of unused, broken, or obsolete electronics equipment in their home or storage area makes the consumer an integral part of the disposal process. By way of shipping equipment back to the original equipment manufacturers, convenient residential and office pickups, and collection events put on by local recycling companies consumers are being offered various ways to dispose their unwanted electronics equipment environmentally.

The report states that in a best case scenario an average of 15% of computer equipment is actually being recycled. This may be due to the convenience and inexpensiveness of throwing unwanted electronics into their everyday trash can.

The report discusses estimated volumes of e-waste in terms of units and weight from 2010 to 2025, as well as other key challenges facing the electronics industry as it becomes more regulated.

An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download here.

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